The Godly Maid of Leicester.
Being a true Relation of Elizabeth Stretton, who lying upon her Death-bed, was wonderfully delivered from the Temptations of Satan, worthy the noting of all that would live and die in the fear of God.
The Tune is, In Summer time.
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AMongst the Wonders God hath shown,
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within this Island and elsewhere,
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A wonder strange I will make known,
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as ever any man did hear!
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A vertuous Maid in Leicester dwelt,
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who came of honest Parentage,
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Temptations and afflictions felt,
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although we was of tender age.
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Elizabeth Stretton was her name,
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of conversation Godly given,
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Gods holy Word was all her aim,
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whose soul no doubt is now in Heaven;
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Sore sick she was and sick to death,
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and in a trance for half an hour,
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That people thought her vital breath,
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extinguishd was by deaths strong power.
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He that raisd Lazarus from the dead,
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did raise this Maid to life again,
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When as they thought her life was fled,
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and that by death she had been slain,
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At last with smiling countenance,
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upon the company did look,
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And said she had been in a Trance,
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but Christ her soul had not forsook.
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I have been in a Combat great,
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even with the black Prince of the Air,
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By craft, and by his strong deceit,
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did seek to bring me to despair,
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But Christ doth ner forsake his Flock,
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who evermore on him depend,
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He was my Fortress and my Rock,
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and brought my troubles to an end.
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Satan. O silly soul the Divel said,
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in Christ why dost thou put thy trust,
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In Hell with me thou must be laid,
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and thy frail body turn to dust.
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Maid. I know my Corps to dust must fall,
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but my sweet Christ redeemd my soul,
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I am his Child on him I call,
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although my sins are very foul.
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Satan No sinful Soul in Heaven may dwell,
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alas poor wretch thou art deceivd.
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Thy sins will weigh thee down to Hell,
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when death of life hath thee bereft.
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Maid. Gods mercy is above my sin,
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who did protect me from my birth,
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My Father knows where I have been,
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amongst vile sinners here on Earth,
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The second part to the same Tune.
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WHose bad example me did cause,
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to walk beside the path of Grace
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I have broke all his sacred Laws,
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yet he my Soul doth still imbrace,
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When he perceivd my Faith so strong,
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Satan began to hide his head,
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I did by him receive no wrong,
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so presently he vanished.
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He was no sooner vanished
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but my sweet Saviour appeard to me,
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When as you thought I had been dead,
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my Soul her Saviour then did see.
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Poor wretch said he, Lo I will be,
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thy Father, Husband, and Delight,
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Thy sinful Soul from Hell to free,
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and overcome the Divels might.
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I hid my Face, a little space,
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to try how patient thou wouldst be,
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I give thee Faith and means of Grace
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and that sufficient was for thee,
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To overcome the Divels power,
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the gates of Hell could not prevail,
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I helpt thee in a Blessed hour,
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and thy poor Soul I will not fail.
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Go tell thy friends where thou hast bin,
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and how my Children I protect,
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How I have pardoned thy sin,
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and all the sins of my Elect.
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With Oyl he did anoint my Soul,
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my head, and all my Body ore,
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He did forgive my sins most foul,
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I praise his holy Name therefore,
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Now I my Saviours love have again,
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I nothing in this World do crave,
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But that I once were free from pain,
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and fairly laid within my Grave.
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All you that stand about my Bed,
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see that the Lord above you fear,
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And think on this when I am dead,
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that you your course so well may steer.
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For I have fought a happy Fight,
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and overcome, by Gods good Grace,
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The Divel in his power and might,
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and run with Comfort now my Race.
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From henceforth is laid up for me,
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a Crown of Immortality,
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Where I shall very shortly be,
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with Heavenly Saints that never die.
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Unto Gods Ordinance lets go,
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in the Week-days with due respect,
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Think not the time ill spent, all you
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that Count your selves as Gods Elect
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As well as on the Sabbath-day,
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as I have done, as you do know,
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For I to you may truly say,
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I find the comfort of it now.
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Let none Gods Ordinance contemn,
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the means of their Salvation,
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Let not the Divel prevail with them,
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to bring them to Damnation.
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I praise my God in all my grief,
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I never lost my hold of Grace,
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When other folks were bent to strife,
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I held the Church the chiefest place.
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And therefore mind me what I say,
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before your Glass be run,
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Though other people go astray.
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go forwards as you have begun,
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And meddle not with them that are
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contentious any kind of way,
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But ever let it be your care,
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Gods holy Ordinance to obey.
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For those that will not serve him here
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in Heaven with him shall never dwell
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Therefore my Friends now have a care
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that you may scape the pains of Hell,
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So farewell Friends, farewell to all,
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Im going to a better place.
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Let not the Divel bring you to thrall,
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nor fondly lose your hold of Grace.
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Lord Jesus now receive my Soul,
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I do bequeath the same to thee,
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O Lord forgive my sins most foul,
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and so to Heaven passed she;
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And so departed she in peace,
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to Heaven with Angels to remain,
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The Lord above gave her release,
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from her Afflictions, Grief and Pain.
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Let People mind her dying words,
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if in Heaven they would live,
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Her Life and Death so much affords,
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and Heavenly comfort now doth give.
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O Lord, give us all Grace, that we
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may live to him and die to sin,
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Our Life and Death shall happy be,
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though in a wicked world weve been.
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